5 methods I’ve turned NotebookLM into my digital mind

NotebookLM has turn out to be an actual game-changer in the way in which I analysis and put together. As a contract author, I do not all the time have the luxurious of sitting with a subject for days earlier than a deadline. I can write about my very own expertise with one thing, however typically I would like dependable background analysis shortly — sufficient to spherical out the story with out disappearing down countless rabbit holes.

NotebookLM swoops in perfecting to offer me context, different folks’s views, and a common understanding of the subjects I am masking — all in a fraction of the time it might take me to sift via website after website alone. The Audio Overviews have been particularly helpful. I can let the AI-generated podcast run whereas I am making breakfast, driving, or simply stepping away from my desk. The flexibility to maintain absorbing materials with out being tied to my laptop computer has saved me numerous hours.

Over time, I’ve even began weaving it into my private life. I’ve used NotebookLM to streamline time administration, set up family analysis tasks, and make sense of lengthy articles or movies with out having to dedicate a full night to them. Listed here are a few of my favourite methods to make use of the software.

1

Establishing a finances for my funds

I would like all the assistance I can get

I will be the primary to confess I am not essentially the most organized relating to budgeting or planning for my monetary future. Saving persistently has by no means been my sturdy go well with, and I’ve all the time struggled with discovering a budgeting system that truly sticks. However NotebookLM got here in useful with this activity; I uploaded a couple of free budgeting guides and instruments I might collected over time and had it summarize them for me.

I in a while made a finances and uploaded it as a PDF and had it analyzed to see if I used to be lacking something, plus the best way to finest use it going ahead. It did not fairly give me opinions on how mine regarded, nevertheless it did observe that I calculated one thing incorrectly, serving to me modify the finances. What was essential was the prompts that I gave it, as I requested it to investigate my finances based mostly on the period of time I wanted and the way a lot I make.

2

Planning an itinerary for a visit

It was an enormous assist to focus on among the greater points of interest

My spouse and I not too long ago took a visit to Scotland for a buddy’s marriage ceremony. We knew we would be flying into Edinburgh, heading to Glasgow, after which persevering with on to the coast for the marriage. With a couple of days to fill earlier than the ceremony, we would have liked to determine one of the simplest ways to spend our time. I uploaded a mixture of journey blogs and official golf course web sites to get a way of what was price seeing.

A easy immediate — asking it to plan a couple of days of journey from Edinburgh to Stranraer — pulled up tons of nice suggestions. Planning the journey was simple and enjoyable, and I did not have to cross-check all the pieces in Google Maps. NotebookLM adopted the route I wanted based mostly on the immediate alone. I am undoubtedly interested by utilizing it to plan extra journeys sooner or later.

3

Studying a brand new ability with Thoughts Map

Why not let NotebookLM give me a breakdown on the best way to do one thing?

On the subject of automotive upkeep, I don’t know the very first thing about it. Vehicles have by no means actually me as a pastime, and I am more than pleased to let a mechanic deal with something that goes incorrect. However after my final oil change solely took about 20 minutes, I figured — why not strive it myself and save just a little cash? I pulled collectively a couple of sources from the web, together with a YouTube tutorial and a few web sites, and had NotebookLM generate a brand new Pocket book on the best way to change my oil.

I used NotebookLM’s Thoughts Map characteristic to interrupt down the steps — what instruments I might want, the best way to elevate my automotive (if attainable), and what prep work was required earlier than truly getting began. Seeing all the pieces mapped out intimately gave me a a lot clearer understanding of the method. What I actually preferred was with the ability to add my automotive’s handbook alongside the web information, so I may see precisely the best way to change the oil for my particular car. Other than spilling just a little oil from carelessness, my first try went simply effective.

4

Watching a video to know historical past higher

I needed to know extra, and NotebookLM made it simple

I am inherently fascinated by baseball. I like the sport and contemplate myself a junkie relating to studying about stats and its historical past. Currently, I have been particularly within the historical past of the Negro Leagues, so I requested NotebookLM to dive deeper into it. I uploaded content material from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, MLB.com’s Negro Leagues part, and Historical past.com’s protection to get began. Then I attempted one thing new: I requested it to make me a video.

The brand new Video Overview characteristic took just a little time to generate, nevertheless it produced a six-minute AI-created video on the historical past of the Negro Leagues. I used to be pleasantly shocked — it coated the broad strokes of how the league started, together with deeper evaluation of its success. I additionally appreciated with the ability to obtain and share the video, which made it simpler to rewatch or cross alongside to others.

5

Watching a film for me in a a lot shorter time

Typically I simply can’t do it

I used to be not too long ago having an argument with somebody about one of the best practice scenes in motion pictures. I listed Supply Code as my private favourite because it’s largely set on a practice. They introduced up Bullet Practice, which I hadn’t seen. I needed to higher perceive what they had been referencing — particularly the ending, which was an enormous level in our debate.

I discovered some clips from Bullet Practice on YouTube and loaded them into NotebookLM. Inside seconds, I had a database to drag from. It summarized the scenes, together with the ending, and gave me a clearer image of the film. Is that this the best strategy to expertise a movie? No — I did not get the complete visible affect. However did it assist me perceive the plot sooner than studying a Wikipedia abstract? Undoubtedly — and with extra element, since NotebookLM analyzed the visuals. It isn’t how I plan to observe motion pictures going ahead, however within the warmth of an argument, it undoubtedly got here in useful.